April 20, 2010

Contact Sandra Jackson at 916-325-1550 or Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324

BURLINGAME – David A. Sanchez, president of the 325,000-member California Teachers Association, released this statement today denouncing Senate Bill 955 by Republican state Senator Bob Huff of Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County to destroy teachers’ rights and ignore the real problems facing our public schools during these hard economic times:

“Once again, as he did in 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is backing destructive education proposals that will hurt teachers and students and do nothing to improve teaching and learning in our classrooms or to solve the budget crisis facing local schools. The governor, Huff and other lawmakers are scapegoating teachers during these tough economic times and robbing them of due process rights. The governor’s promises to support public education are as empty as school districts’ coffers depleted by his $17 billion in state education funding cuts over the last two years.

“Now the governor is supporting outrageous legislation that will make it harder to attract and retain quality teachers in our classrooms, and open the door for discrimination and favoritism by local school districts, while at the same time eliminating a teacher’s right to a hearing before being laid off. Taking experienced teachers out of our schools is not the best way to help students or improve learning.

“With our school districts at the breaking point, class sizes nearly doubling in some grades, over 16,000 educators laid off last year, another 26,000 receiving pink slips this year, and critical student programs disappearing, the governor is pushing legislation that won't save the state one dime or do anything to improve student learning.

“California's parents, teachers and students want the governor and the Legislature to focus on solving real problems like soaring class sizes, inadequate resources, and the elimination of music, art, and vocational education programs. It’s time for the governor and lawmakers to work with educators to support neighborhood schools and provide all students with a quality education.”